Track-focused machine pushes Nissanâ€™s supercar to new heights.

Nissan GT-R Nismo first drive review

Track-focused machine pushes Nissanâ€™s supercar to new heights.

Nissan GT-R Nismo first drive review

15 Aug 2014Stephen Ottley

The Nissan GT-R Nismo is so fast it almost scrambles my brain.

By that I mean not literally, but metophorically it takes a few minutes for my thoughts to catch up to what this Japanese supercar is capable of. That's because you need to process more information and you need to do it faster than in most other cars, even the ‘regular’ GT-R.

Launching it out of the hairpin at the Silverstone circuit in England, the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 spins up and tries to unleash its full potential. But with 447kW, 652Nm and a fresh coating of rain on the track the GT-R Nismo struggles for traction.

Its four-wheel drive system does the best it can and I squeeze my right foot down as smoothly as possible but traction is still in short supply. The car’s computers get involved and the traction control dulls the power to ensure we keep pointing in the right direction.

And, no matter the speed, it just keeps going and struggles for grip in second gear, third and even into fourth gear.

The extra power and torque (the standard GT-R produces ‘only’ 404kW and 628Nm) comes courtesy of larger turbos taken directly from the GT-R GT3 race car than Nismo has competed with at various racetracks around the world - including Silverstone.

Of course getting the power to the road is not helped by the trademark English weather that closed in on the Silverstone circuit at just the wrong moment. The clouds opened and gave the racetrack a coating of water just minutes before I was due to be unleashed in Nissan’s most powerful car.

But with only one chance to sample this GT-R Nismo - the only one of its kind in Europe at the moment - there was no option but to go for it.

Thankfully the GT-R Nismo retains the core attributes of the ‘regular’ GT-R. Both are cars that encourage you to drive fast and allow you to push the limits of your own abilities, safe in the knowledge that the car’s very large brain will assist you if necessary.

And while you need the help initially, once your brain has caught up you can really have some fun with the Nismo.

The other changes to the Nismo variant have been designed to tighten up the way it handles to make it even more capable on the track.

For starters the body has additional bonding and spot welding for extra rigidity.

Then the suspension has been re-tuned and now features custom-developed Bilstein dampers and a hollow rear anti-roll car.

And then there’s the tyres which are Dunlops developed specifically for the GT-R Nismo. Measuring 255/40 on the front and 285/35 on the rear they are wrapped around six-spoke 20-inch alloys wheels inspired by Nissan’s famous GT500 Japanese GT race car.

As a result the GT-R Nismo turns into corners with utter precision. It may still be a big car - despite some weight savings - but it doesn’t feel as super sized as the regular version.

It sits remarkably flat when pitched into the corner, giving you confidence as a driver to push harder next time.

The Dunlops provide loads of grip, even in the wet and greasy conditions we were faced with during our time on the track.

Its impressive grip is also aided by an all-new aerodynamic package that was developed for the Nismo, with a new front bumper, rear bumper and carbon fibre, centrally-mounted rear wing.

Nissan claims the new bodywork lowers the centre of gravity, adds 100kg of downforce at 300km/h but manages to keep the drag coefficient the same.

It also gives the GT-R Nismo serious presence as it looks racier than the regular version even sitting stationary in pitlane. The extra cooling vents and gills, not to mention the big wing and racing style wheels, give the GT-R Nismo visual impact.

Inside the Nismo feels similar to a standard GT-R, but there are some subtle yet important differences. The first you notice when you try and position your seat, the clever rotary electronic adjustment is gone because the usual seats are replaced by light-weight Recaro bucket seats with manual adjustment.

Once in position though they are comfortable and, more importantly, very supportive when you start throwing the Nismo around the track.

There are other changes too that add to the sportier, more track-focused intent of the car, such as the Alcantara wrapped steering wheel and the red coloured rev counter.

Ultimately though this first taste of the GT-R Nismo throws up even more questions. Like, how does it ride on the road? A smooth racetrack is not a true test of a car’s ride comfort. And given how harsh the regular GT-R can feel at times in the real world, this stiffer, track-ready Nismo version is unlikely to be a comfortable companion for long road trips.

The other big questions are when will it arrive in Australia, and how much will it cost when it does?

Nissan Australia remains committed to the Nismo brand locally but is still trying to secure all three models - the GT-R plus 370Z and Juke Nismo - to give it a serious launching platform.

But whenever it does arrive the GT-R Nismo is bound to be popular amongst those either looking for something faster than their current GT-R or someone just looking for a supercar that will blow their minds.